When I think about how much time my younger cousins spend on TikTok, Instagram, and Roblox, I’m struck by how different their world is compared to when I was growing up. Social media has given them ways to connect, learn, and even build communities. Yet, it also opens the door to darker problems like bullying that don’t stop at the schoolyard. There is also exposure of personal information and serious risks to mental health.
Victims now at risk of 24/7 Bullying
Cyberbullying, often called social media bullying, is the use of digital platforms to harass, intimidate, or humiliate others. Social media amplifies bullying through the asynchronous nature of its communication. It enables anonymity, ephemeral content, and algorithms that spread the harmful materials far and wide. A cruel comment can reach thousands within minutes, leaving lasting scars on the target. Unlike traditional bullying, victims can’t escape once they leave work, school, or any other physical establishment. Nearly every adult and child carries a phone in their pocket, making harassment constant and pervasive.
The toll of cyberbullying goes far beyond embarrassment. Victims report higher levels of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. For young people especially, this constant exposure to hostility can warp self-image and silence their voices. Online harassment disproportionately affects women and marginalized groups, who are frequently targeted with hate speech and sexual harassment. These attacks don’t just harm individuals. They corrode trust and expression in our broader society.
Online Safety Skills Eroding
Beyond individual attacks, social media itself poses major privacy risks. One of the most dangerous evolutions of online harassment is doxxing, or the intentional release of private, identifying information without consent. Often tied to revenge, extortion, or coordinated harassment, victims may face stalking, identity theft, or even swatting. Victims of doxxing or bullying often struggle with incomplete legal protections, making it nearly impossible to reclaim their digital privacy. Disturbingly, many kids also self-doxx by oversharing personal details like their full names, schools, or locations on public profiles. This normalization makes them easy targets, as it can be difficult, if not impossible, to permanently remove sensitive information.
What aspects of doxxing concern you the most?
Credit: SafeHome.org
Teachable Strategies to Protect Your Kids Online
Digital Babysitting isn’t enough to prevent harm. Parents must play an active role in their children’s online safety by boosting their own digital literacy and guiding their children’s digital experiences, not just relying on device time limits or passive supervision. A 2025 nationwide survey found that nearly nine in ten children feel comfortable talking to their parents when something online makes them feel unsafe, underscoring the importance of open communication and active parental engagement. When parents combine warmth, consistent structure, and supportive autonomy, they significantly reduce both school-based and online bullying.
On the individual level, users should tighten privacy settings, limit sharing personal information, and document abuse when it happens. Platforms must step up, too, by improving reporting tools, filters, and moderation systems. Nonprofits such as The Cybersmile Foundation are working to provide resources and education for those affected, and legal reform is being attempted in countries like Australia.
Social media is here to stay, and while it connects us in powerful ways, it also magnifies harm. By understanding these risks and taking action as individuals, parents, platforms, and policymakers, we can create safer spaces online. Protecting privacy and dignity isn’t just a personal responsibility; it’s a collective one.
This article was written by a guest contributor, G. Johnson.
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